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Phil Coke and Alex Avila congratulate one another after recording the final out in today's 4-2 win over the Twins in Minneapolis. / Hannah Foslien/Getty Images

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MINNEAPOLIS — The designated stars provided the necessary early heat on a numbingly cold Nordic Opening Day. Justin Verlander paralyzed Minnesota hitters with his curveball through five innings. Miguel Cabera and Prince Fielder drove in runs in the first inning.

But as the late afternoon sun cast shadows across Target Field, it was apparent that the true starring role in the first act of one of the more eagerly anticipated Tigers’ seasons ever still hadn’t emerged.

Who would close the door in the ninth?

Or perhaps the better question would be, “How many?”

Manager Jim Leyland was true to his word: He’ll operate the ninth inning like a street hustler shilling a game of three-card monte.

He’ll shuffle. He’ll mix and match. Certain that you know under which card the closer of that day rests? Guess again.

Joaquin Benoit came out in the bottom of the ninth after pitching the eighth inning in his customary set-up role because Leyland wanted him facing the right-handed leadoff hitter. Benoit got him to pop out to catcher Alex Avila. And then Leyland trotted out and brought in Phil Coke because the left-handed-hitting Justin Morneau was due up next.

The lack of drama during spring training placed even greater emphasis on the uncertainty at closer. The Tigers gave rookie flame-thrower Bruce Rondon every opportunity during the exhibition season to seize the ninth inning as exclusively his, and Rondon threw just about every opportunity into the dirt.

He’s not ready. They sent him down. But it’s pointless creating a false sense of panic about a role that’s generally overvalued in its importance — unless, of course, your name is Mariano Rivera and you’re headed to Cooperstown after your retirement following this season.

It helps having a defined presence in that last inning, but it isn’t mandatory for a team envisioning a World Series championship parade down Woodward. Don’t forget that the team that swept the Tigers in last year’s Series — the San Francisco Giants — went through a few ninth-inning replacement options after losing established closer Brian Wilson to early season-ending injury before getting comfortable with Sergio Romo.

But it took time. And it didn’t exactly kill them during the wait.

“Today, it was (Al) Alburquerque, Benoit and Coke,” said Leyland, “and the next game, it might be Darin Downs, (Bryan) Villarreal and (Octavio) Dotel. That’s just the way it’s going to be. It’s nothing different from what we’ve been talking about all along.”

Coke isn’t bothered by the apparent uncertainty of his role.

“I just have to be ready to go out there whenever my name gets called,” Coke said. “Who knows? The next time they use me, it could be to face a batter in the sixth inning. We understand what the situation is, and you just have to mentally prepare yourself for whatever comes next.”

But Coke’s crazy enough to be an effective closer.

And I mean that endearingly.

He possesses that slightly off-kilter personality that’s essential for someone entrusted with forgetting the blown saves as quickly as you forget the successful ones. There were occasions last season when he drove many fans as crazy facing a single hitter in the seventh inning as Valverde did facing three batters in the ninth. But just maybe he’s better suited emotionally and competitively for the end rather than select spots in the middle.

“You have to be careful about trying to be a scientist about it,” Leyland said before the game. “It’s still pretty simple. I’ve got a couple things in mind.”

That mind will regularly change based on specific matchups.

This is what frustrates the Leyland critics most — his unflinching faith in basing lineups and game strategy on percentages and gut feelings instead of just finding the right guy for the right job and keeping him out there.

More details: The gang of seven

Phil Coke was the first reliever to get a save this season in the Tigers’ bullpen by committee, but he likely won’t be the only one. Here’s how many career regular-season saves each of the Tigers’ seven relievers have: